An essential part of any type of poker is making combinations. They help determine the winner of the hand. The simplest ones, like a pair or trips, are not difficult to collect, because they require only two or three cards.
However, starting from the straight, all five cards begin to be used in a combination, and it is not often possible to collect them on the first streets of trading (for example, the flop). Instead, poker players receive intermediate (unready) hands that can improve on the turn or river.
What is a flush draw in poker?
Many unfinished combinations have their own names: gutshot, straight draw, two-way, double belly buster, and flush draws. Let's go into detail about what a flush draw is, and what are the chances of improving this hand to a made one.
What is a Flush Draw in Poker?
A flush draw is a combination of four cards of the same suit. This is an unfinished combination, therefore, if it does not improve to a flush, you will only be able to win at showdown on the highest card.
In the example here, the hero has a hand with good potential for strengthening. On a low flop (ten-high), he caught the nut flush draw. To make a flush, he needs any diamond card, and this flush will be the highest in the deck. Additional outs for the hero can be an Ace or a king, which will strengthen the hand to one or two pairs.
AK of diamonds will be stronger on such a board than T9 of clubs, despite the fact that they have a top pair hit.
Some online poker players choose aggressive lines with flush draws, especially holding Ace King. With the chance to make the nut flush, or two different top pairs, they’ll apply pressure to weaker hands.
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Examples of Common Flush Draw Situations
Here are a few more typical examples of flush draws.
The example above shows an extremely interesting situation. The hero has the nut flush draw, and his opponent has the straight flush draw. A six of diamonds or a jack will close the flush for the hero, but these will be “poisoned” cards, since a straight flush is the second strongest hand in no-limit Texas hold'em.
Let's look at another example. The opponent already has a straight draw on the flop – any six or jack closes his straight. The hero has nothing yet. However, if the dealer shows diamonds on the turn and river, the flush is there.
This is called backdoor flush draw, when we need two cards of the same suit both on the turn and on the river.
The equity of making backdoor draws is always low, so you shouldn’t chase them. Instead, understand your outs, and factor in other outcomes, like hitting pairs. This will give you a better idea of your equity.
Pracitce concepts like this in freerolls without affecting your bankroll.
Probability of Making a Flush
A flush is a fairly strong poker combination that can beat a set, straight, or one or two pair at showdown.
What is the probability of making a flush?
- There is little chance of catching a ready flush on the flop – 0.84%
- The probability of hitting a flush draw with two suited cards on the flop is 10.90%
- The chance of flopping a flush draw on the turn is 19.00%
- The probability of closing a flush draw from the turn on the river is 20.00%
- The chances of making a flush by the river with two suited cards preflop are only 6.40%
If you ever feel curious about probabilities in poker, head to our online calculator. Enter in your cards, the opponent’s cards, and whatever kind of board you want. This will show you how to play against different parts of your opponent’s range, by showing you the chances of loss or success.
What is a Royal Flush?
A Royal Flush is the best possible hand you can make in poker. It is the highest kind of straight flush with cards from A to T all of the same suit, for example, A♠K♠Q♠J♠T♠. There are only 4 combinations, one for the royal flush cards of each suit.
Since this hand can’t be beaten, the holder is guaranteed to win and everyone at your table can only have worse hands. This is why there is a special category and name for this specific hand.
Probability of Making a Flush
As well as being the strongest hand, it is also the hardest to make so you should not expect to see one often or be too concerned about an opponent making one. If dealt 5 random cards, they will be a Royal Flush 0.000154% of the time, that is 1 in 650,000 hands.
When dealt 2 random cards, the chance of making a royal flush by each street (assuming you never fold before then) is:
- 0.000154% on the flop (1 in 649,000)
- 0.000923% on the turn (1 in 108,000)
- 0.0032% on the river (1 in 31,000)
If you are dealt 2 suited cards, that are both part of a royal flush like A♣Q♣ the probabilities are:
- 0.0051% on the flop (1 in 20,000)
- 0.020% on the turn (1 in 5,000)
- 0.051% on the river (1 in 1,960)
Therefore, you should expect to be dealt tens of thousands of hands before you make one, meaning it is uncommon even for high volume online players.